Ron Michaud introduced Jim Kenyon by reflecting that he sees Jim Kenyon as the champion of the underdog. In addition, Kenyon understand the importance of doing the research to make sure his information sources are reliable and credible.
Jim Kenyon is a local journalist based in Vermont, focusing on news and events in the Upper Valley region. With a career spanning multiple publications, including the Valley News and Gephardt Daily, Jim covers a wide range of topics, including local politics, social issues, and human-interest stories. His work provides a unique perspective on the community and its residents.
Our president, David Crandall called the meeting to order at noon.
Ron Michaud led us in reciting the 4-Way Test.
Ernst Oidtmann played the piano and led us in singing our Rotary welcome song. Then it was time for another Gilbert and Sullivan song, Now to the Banquet We Press. Bruce Pacht did his best to lead us in singing this song.
David Crandall let us know that Dean Cashman will soon be celebrating a birthday (Sunday); and this is Cal's 3rd Rotary anniversary.
David Crandall welcomed our speaker, Jim Kenyon, from the Valley News; and Sean Kuit, Anytime Fitness, a former member of both the WRJ Club and Randolph Club.
Humor — "What did zero say to eight?" is "Nice belt".
After lunch, Jim Kenyon talked to us about his career as a journalist and investigative reporter for the Valley News. See story above.
Bill Secord presented the book for the Kilton Public Library's Children's Collection being given in honor of Jim Kenyon:
If I Was a Horse Hardcover
by Sophie Blackall (Author)
A gift for any child with an unbridled imagination, this bestseller from award-winning creator Sophie Blackall captures the astonishing spectacle of life as a horse. And with a cover adorned with glitter, this romp really sparkles!
If you were a horse, what would you do? Could you fit in your clothes? Would you give your little sister a ride? Would your brother even notice?
Gallop along with two-time Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall through this riotous day in the life of a child who imagines their life as a horse. What ensues are uproarious, resonant episodes that feature a giant horse in familiar settings offering both a visual feast, a grand dose of joy, and a celebration of the real power of imagination to help us navigate the world.
Then it was onto announcements
Announcements
Sponsors for Golf and Brew Fest: Ed Friedman reminded us that our Golf Tournament is now just 15 days away. We now have 21 teams signed up to paly with over half gold sponsorship!...we were all strongly urged to continue to ask for sponsorships (large and small) and we need raffle prizes too. We are behind were we were last year. Do what you can to round up sponsors and raffle prizes? It is hoped that the majority of us can help at the tournament too.
Change Over 2024: Reminder, Change Over will be Wednesday, June 26, 2024 in the evening. Save the date. We discussed doing a joint change over event with Hanover. Members present were in agreement that they support this as plan. Stay tuned for details. We are still waiting to hear back from Hanover.
Jon Blodgett - Helpers needed! Ernst Oidtmann let us know that Jon Blodgett needs some help moving more boxes to storage in advance of putting his house on the market for sale. Ernst will be reaching out for helpers once he has the date the works for Jon and his wife. Reminder that Jon is a past president of the club (he served two consecutive year).
Angela Nelson is excited to know that she will be leaving for a cruise to Bermuda tomorrow.
Ron Michaud went to a delightful string quartet concert at the First Congregational Church in Lebanon. Upon leaving the concert, there was an overwhelming police presence as protestors from Dartmouth were being processed in Lebanon...unsettling. He also let us know he saw Garlan at the concert and reported Garlan is doing well.
This led to Bruce Pacht and Phil Bush sharing stories of their involvement in Vietnam protests in the 60s while they were at Dartmouth. Bruce served 26 days in jail and had to pay a $100 fine. Phil passed food to the protestors (including Bruce P) who had taken over a building on campus.
Will Koppenheffer is off to Arlington for a family reunion and birthday for his one year old grandson.
Sean Kuint is happy for sunshine; for Angela Nelson getting his taxes done; and for getting ready for new bees for his bee hives.
Four of us, Hank Clarke, Marilyn Bedell, Jim Damren and Sean Sean Kuit shared sad news of deaths:
For Hank, it was news of a death of a 91 year old veteran who he got to know as a driver for the VA.
For Marilyn, it was news of former Lebanon-Riverside Rotarian, Michael Skinner. He was a nurse, and hospital administrator at D-H and for the hospital in Greenfield, MA. He and exceptional leader.
For Jim, it was his former baseball coach, Charles Otis Hunnewell who led Jim's LHS baseball team to the championship in 1981.
For Sean it was the death of his friend's baby girl, 11 days after her birth. She was a twin. Her brother is still alive.
For the last time prior to the concert, Bill Secord shared information about the upcoming Bel Conto Concert.
Raffles
Queen of Hearts
Phil Rentz pull the Ace of Clubs. Still looking for the queen of hearts.
Car Wash
John Yacavone won the carwash.
FUTURE MEETING PROGRAMS/SPEAKERS
May 9: Lynn Goodwin, Lebanon Welfare Department
May 16: Airplane build at LHS - Students will come to talk to us about "Take Flight" is a new 3-credit course, and The students have selected as the inaugural group build the plane.
May 23: Brooke Finnell, Epilogos Charities
May 29: Invitation to join Hanover at their meeting to hear the President of Dartmouth College, Sian Beilock
May 30: Alex Bortolot, Deputy Director, Hood Museum at Dartmouth College
June 6: Morgana Isenberg, VA Services
June 13: Ed Morris, Enfield Town Manager
June 20: Dianna Hastings, NH Children’s Trust
June 26: Changeover
Attendance
Bill Babineau, Marilyn Bedell, Ron Bedell, Bruce Bergeron, Phil Bush, Dean Cashman, Ahmad Haidari, Will Koppenheffer, Ron Michaud, Angela Nelson, Ernst Oidtmann, Bruce Pacht, Phil Rentz, Bill Secord, Joshua Smith, Rich Wallace, Cal Wolfe, John Yacavone
Guests: Speaker, Jim Kenyon, Valley News; Sean Kuit, Anytime Fitness
*Joined by WebEx
Standing Meetings
Membership Meetings: Third Tuesday at 3:30 PM
Contact: David Crandall
Youth Services: Second Wednesday of the month at Noon
Contact: Joy Gobin
Charities: Third Wednesday of the month at 1:00 PM
Contact: Bruce Pacht
Board Meeting: 4th Tuesday of every month at 4:00 PM via Zoom
Contact: David Crandall
Golf: Let Ed Friedman know if you want to know when Golf Planning meetings are happening. Dates vary.
Brew Fest: Let Phil Rentz know if you want to know when Brew Fest meetings are happening. Dates Vary. Next meeting, June 4, 2024 at Noon at Service Credit Union
Next Youth Service meeting will be May 8, 2024. join Zoom Meeting
Community Service Projects, Fundraisers and Rotary Events
31st Bedell Classic Golf Tournament
We need sponsors and raffle prizes!
See you
Friday, May 17, 2024
at Eastman Golf Links
Changeover 2024
From David Crandall's Leadership to
Ernst Oidtman's Leadership
Save the Date:
Changeover 2024 will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Time, place, activity to be announced later.
Brew Fest 2024
Save the date! August 31, 2024
Hazardous Waste Collection (HWC), from John Yacavone
The 2 or 3 Rotary volunteers needed are for One or all the following dates Fri., 12, and Sat., Sept. 28
Collections are 9-Noon in Lebanon, July 14, and Sept 28. I would need 2-3 people to interview attendees and direct them where to go. Shifts can be the full 3 hours or I can do shorter shifts – as you know, the busiest time is the first hour or so.
Listen, Request for Volunteers: Food Pantry Stocking
A few volunteers are needed at the Food Pantry to open bags and stock shelves. Arrive anytime from 9:00 – 4:30, Monday thru Friday for the next 2 weeks. Stay as long as you like. Bags are donated by Price Chopper customers. Contact valerie@listencs.org to notify us of your arrival time. The Food Pantry is located at 60 Hanover St, Lebanon.
Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
The Rotary International Convention will be in Calgary in 2025. Marilyn Bedell has been asked to be the promotions chair for Rotary Zone 32. Ron shared that he has been to Calgary twice for the Calgary Stampede. Calgary is a great city in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. The conventions will be June 21-25, 2025
This is the only Rotary International Convention that
will be held in North America for the next few years.
So, start planning. The Calgary committee has many
exciting events and pre & post trips planned for the
convention that will be revealed in detail on June 25th.
If you register during this year's Singapore Convention you
will receive a special rate of only $425 per person. That
will last only five days, so you must act quickly. The
dates are June 25 through June 29, 2024. After that
the rates will go up starting June 30, 2024.
TOP STITCH
Rotary Vests and Jackets
John Yacavone has arranged for members to order light and heavier weight jackets and vest for us to wear when doing service projects...for days when our tees shirts just aren't enough to keep us comfortable and warm.
If you click the link below, Top Stitch has created a special website for Lebanon Rotary Club members to order the following clothing items.
1. Men’s and Women’s light weight jackets
2. Men’s and Women’s fleece vests
3. Men’s and Women’s fleece jackets
All jackets and vests will have Rotary Logo and club name.
Just pick your item and follow the instructions for ordering. If you decide to pick up your item at Top Stitch located at 233 Mascoma Street Lebanon, NH 03766 there will be no charge for shipping, otherwise shipping will be charged. If you have any questions about your order please contact Cody at Top Stitch at 603-448-2931. Turn around time is 3.5 - 4 weeks. Once you place your order your order will be processed no waiting on other orders to be fulfilled.
Rotary News
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pledges US$ 500 million to protect children from polio and end the disease for good
New commitment will help vaccinate 370 million children against polio over five years, preventing paralysis and even death, and strengthen health systems to achieve and sustain a polio-free world.
RIYADH (28 APRIL 2024) – Today, at the first-ever World Economic Forum (WEF) Special Meeting hosted in Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has pledged US$500 million over the next five years to support the work of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
This announcement marks a significant increase in funding for the global effort to eradicate polio – a devastating virus that paralyzes and can be fatal for children but is preventable with vaccines. The funds announced today will enable GPEI partners – the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Rotary International, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) – spearheaded by national governments, to protect more than 370 million children with polio vaccines every year. It will also facilitate the delivery of other life-saving interventions like nutritional supplements and bed nets to underserved communities and strengthen health systems to better prepare countries for emerging health threats.
The commitment was made as part of a broader more than US$ 620 million partnership by Saudi Arabia and BMGF to support polio eradication and contribute to other global health initiatives, including the Lives and Livelihood Fund. The partnership was announced at the WEF Special Meeting by His Excellency Dr. Abdullah A. Al Rabeeah, Advisor to the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Centre (KSrelief) and His Excellency Fahad bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel, Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the presence of Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, and Bill Gates, co-chair of BMGF.
Rotary recognizes President Emmanuel Macron for France’s commitment to a polio-free world
PARIS (4 May 2024) – Rotary International presented its Polio Eradication Champion Award to French President Emmanuel Macron today, in recognition of France’s significant role in the global effort to eradicate polio. The ceremony was a feature of the Rotary Day event at UNESCO, centered on education and peace.
Under President Macron's leadership, France notably pledged €50 million to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in October 2022. This commitment was complemented by a significant partnership announcement in December 2023 between the Gates Foundation and the French Development Agency (AFD), which included a loan of up to €55 million to support the World Health Organization’s polio efforts in Pakistan, bringing the country's total commitment to polio eradication to up to €105 million ($103.4 million). France has also been a strong advocate within the G-20 and G-7, urging other nations to continue their support for a polio-free world.
“I am delighted to recognize President Macron and the Government of France for the outstanding commitment to a polio-free world," said Rotary International President Gordon McInally. "Our experience over more than thirty years of battling polio has shown us what we can achieve by working together. As part of the global team to end polio, we are committed to reaching every child and eliminating polio even in the most difficult environments."
Rotary partners with the United Nations Environment Programme
Have you heard about Community Action for Fresh Water? In this new initiative, rooted in a strategic partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, Rotary and Rotaract members work with their communities and partners to protect, restore, and sustain freshwater ecosystems. Visit the Rotary-UNEP Partnership page to learn more and:
If you attend the Rotary International Convention, come to the Community Action for Fresh Water breakout session! And write to cafw@rotary.org with any questions.
.png)
